Penelope Bat:: Her Odyssey With The Spirits of Nature

This story is an allegorical fable about a unique bat named Penelope. She lives comfortably but is plagued by a voice in her head that discourages her from taking any chances and forces her to concentrate on her "difference and otherness." A mysterious and mystical crow becomes her guardian and teaches her the secret of soaring flight, and leads her to Yosemite Valley. On her odyssey she encounters the Spirits of Rock, Water, Air and Fire. They teach her the shamanic roles of these elements as they work together to shape and renew the valley. She learns from the voices of the elements that which gives her power to be "who she is to become." She learns courage, persistence, and commitment, understandings and actions that free her also to teach & lead others. Flight is the metaphor that makes the story soar. Ultimately this is a fable about overcoming self doubt and fulfilling one's potential. The playful interaction of the Greek elemental spirits of Rock, Water, Air and Fire are used to present a unique lesson in how the forces of nature nourish life and change among the creatures and plants and physical spaces of Yosemite.